Basil Cupcakes with Grapefruit Icing

Caprese salad was a favorite of my parents when I was growing up so it was inevitable that I would develop an affinity for it. I mean come on, tomato, mozzarella and basil – what’s not to love? That’s probably one of the reasons I love using the salad’s ingredients in other aspects of my cooking, especially basil.

I tried for years to grow herbs in my apartment but no matter what I did, I couldn’t keep them alive. Apparently I don’t have much of a green thumb. Luckily that hasn’t stopped me from finding other ways to source herbs like basil for cooking and baking.

These cupcakes are savory but sweet lovers shouldn’t worry, the grapefruit icing is the perfect sweet topping! If you’re looking to remind everyone that spring has arrived, go for some colorful cupcake liners and decorate the cupcakes to look like flowers.

Basil Cupcakes with Grapefruit Icing

Recipe Type: Snack

Author: Charlotte

Savory cupcakes for basil and citrus lovers

Ingredients

1 cup + 2 tablespoons (210g) granulated sugar

12 tablespoons (170g) butter, softened

3 tablespoons (20g) of chopped basil, packed

2 eggs, large

1 teaspoon vanilla

½ cup (122ml) milk

1 1/2 cup (215g) flour

1 ½ (6g) Teaspoon baking powder

½ (4g) Teaspoon salt

½ cup (102g) solid vegetable shortening

½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 cups (500g) confectioners’ sugar

2 tablespoons milk

3 tablespoons grapefruit zest

2 drops of orange food gel

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

Line two muffin tins with cupcake liners and set aside

In a stand mixer, cream sugar, butter and basil together until light and fluffy in appearance

Turn mixer to low and add one egg at a time, followed by the vanilla and milk

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt

Gently mix dry ingredients into wet

Fill muffin tins ¾ of the way to the top and bake for 18 – 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean

While cupcakes are cooling, prepare the frosting

In a medium bowl, cream shortening and butter until light and fluffy

Beat in vanilla extract

Beat in confectioners’ sugar, one cup at a time, scraping down the sides as you go

Once sugar is completely incorporated, beat in milk and grapefruit zest

For optional color, add two drops of orange food gel and gently mix until color is incorporated